Quick-release connector



QUICK-RELEASE .CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1944 's Sheets-Sheet 1.

p 1946-v F. G. MANSON QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1944 s sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 17,1946. MANSON 2,407,715

QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1944 s Sheet-Sheet s Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE- 1 2,407,715 1 QUICK-RELEASE mums Frank G ansomohicageiu. Application'fictober 11, 1944. Serial No. 558,264 12 Claims w lfzlj' zos) rality of straps. One such connector comprises a hollow casing having a plurality of spaced slots for the: connector member for position. Althoughcertain provide a quick-release connector having'an even f requiring a minimum the releasing mechathe shaft extends. through the operating member. a

For a more complete understanding of the invention. reference should now be had to the drawings in which: 1 r V Fig. I is an elevational view of a quick-release connector embodying the invention looking at the inner face of theconne'ctor, i. e.,the face which will be next to the body *of the wearer of the parachute harness; i i

Fig. 2 isa side elevational nector shown in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is an elevational view similar to- Fig; 1 but showing the connector member rotated to releasing position; r

Fig. 4. is a. side elevational view similar to Fig; 2 but showing the releasing position of Fig. 3;

- FigL'5 isa-seetional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. '2 showing the connector member in ele vation; Fig. '6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. I;' V Fig. 7i is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but taken along the line 1- 1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8' is a sectional view takenalong the line t e-8 of Fi 3;. l .Eigs. Qand 10' are taken. along the lines 9. of Fig- 8,. respectively.

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views. of parts View of. the confragmentarv sectional views of Fig.6 and Ill-40 opposite sides of a .riI -v four radially extending circumferentially spaced slots l6 for exposing portions of a rotatable con nector member I! which is mounted within the casing. As shown best in Figs. I connector member I! is provided with three hooking arms [8 that are openat one with a connecting loop I9. A stop pin 20 which.

extends crosswise of the casing H is arranged to be engaged ber l1 so as rotation between the connecting position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and the releasing position shown in Figs. 3 and '7. When in connecting position, each of the booking arms- It! extends across one of the slots It in the casing for engagement by harness hooks or similar fastening means (not shown), and a portion of the loop l9 extends across the other slot l6 for engagement by a hook 2|, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. As is well understood in devices of this type. when the connector member I1 is rotated to the releasing position shown in Figs. 3 and '7, the hookingarms |8 move out of their associated slots so that all of the harness hooks or fastening means will immediately and simultaneously'be released. I t

The'c'onnector member I1 is mounted on a rotatable" shaft 22 which extends. through a'wall of the casing I5 and through a member 23 whi'ch is secured to the outerwall of the casing bysuitable screws 2311' (Fig. 12) and form 'wbearin'g for the shaft. The shaft 22,"'as Fig. 12, extends throughfand beyond the bearing member 23' and a disc-shaped operating member orhandle 24 (Fig. l1) isprovided'adapted to enga e the projecting end of theshaft 22. v Although the operating member 24 may be formed in any desirable mariner, it isshown'a's by portions of the connectormembeing made up of a plurality of laminations secured together by suitable screws 25. The inner lamination 23; which rests against the outer surface of the bearing member 23 when the device is assembled. is provided with acentral aperture through which the shaft projects'and with suitable diametrically disoosed slots 21 which extend radially from the central aperture for a purpose which will be more fully described hereinafter. The outer lamination 28 of the'disc-shaned handle member is similar in configuration to the inner laririinatio'n- 23 except that itis not provided with slots corresponding tothe'slotsfl'. ;In betw'een'the laminations 26 and 28 are disposed two sets of laminations 29 and 3|) which are shaped as shown in'Fig. l3 and spaced-apart on diametric line extending throughthe slots 21 of the inner lamination. In Fig. 13 the inner lamination 26 is removed in order more clearly-to show the shape of the laminations 29 and 39. Although'three laminations are shown in each of the grou s 29 and 30,,it will of course be understood that any desired number may be employed and that the laminations may be made of any suitable thickness.

Due to the fact that the laminations 29 and 1, s, 5,and 7, the

shown best in,

side and i to limit the connector memberto l 24 in a position corresponding to the .'connect-' looking for arranged for alignment member by the disc 24.

angle at the periphery of the disc 24.

The diameter of the operating disc 24 is such that itmay readilybe grasped in the hand of an operator and the arcuate heads 32 on the locking member 3| project slightly beyond the periphery Iofthe disc so that they may be grasped between opposed surfaces of the operators hand and be simultaneously pressed inwardly. The arcuate heads 32 extend about a substantial portion of the periphery of thedisc 24 to insure that the operator-will not have to waste time feeling or them when it is desired to rotate the disc for quick release.

Each of the locking members. 3| is provided at its inner end with an angularly extending lock ing key 33, and as will be observed from Fig. 11 these locking keys 33 extend through the slots 21in the inner lamination 23, the length of the slots being such as to permit inward and outward radial movement of the locking members 3|.

The shaft 22 is provided with a reduced end portion 34 which extends beyond the operating disc 24 and is provided with screw threads to receive a suitable washer 35 and a nut 36 (Fig. 6) for holdingthe operating member 24 on the shaft with the inner lamination 26 engaging the bearingmember 23. disc 24 to: the shaft 22 so that rotation of the operating disc will effect rotation of the connector member 11, the shaft 22is provided with diametrically disposed'axially extending slots 31. When the operating disc 24 is mounted on the shaft the locking keys 33 project into the slots 31' in the shaft and key the operating disc-to the shaft. 1

As shown best in Figs. 6, 8 and 12, the shaft 22 is provided witha transverse and the inner end of each of the locking members 3| is provided with a recess 39. A coil spring 40 is disposed in the aperture 38 with its opposite ends projecting into the recesses39 in the locking members 3|. Thus the spring is effective at all time to urge the locking members radially outward toward the projecting positions shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6.

In order effectively to lock the operating disc i-ng'ipo'sition of the connector member the bearing member 23 is provided with axially extending diametrically disposed slots 4| which are with th slots .31. in the shaft 22 when the connector member 21- and the shaft 22 are rotated to the connecting position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. With the slots '31 and 4| in alignment, the spring 40 moves the locking members 3| outwardly and the locking keys 33 enter the slots 4| in the bearing member 23 thereby .to prevent rotation of the connector When the disc 24 is grasped and the two locking members 3| are forced inwardly arcuate heads 32, the lockingkeys 33 move to a position in which the locking keys are disposed entirely within the slots 31 in the shaft'2-2; In

.pressed inwardly each of the In order to key the operating bore or aperture 38 by exerting pressure on the other words, the locking keys 33 move out of the slots 4| and consequently the shaft 22 is freed for rotation of the connector member 21 to the releasing position shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 10.

It will be observed that the locking'members are disposed on opposite sides of the projecting locking positions due to the fact that the locking keys 33 in the slots 31 are brought into alignment with and can move outwardly into the slots 4! in the bearing member 23,

ing a wall of the casing 15. The casing l5, as shown best in Fig. 6, is preferably formed in two halves, one half being secured to the shaft 22 by means of the screw 42 and the washer 43 and the other half of the casing !5, which carries securement of the operatin disc 24 posite end of the shaft While I have shown a of my invention, it will be understood, of course,

spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent is:

casing.

2. In a quick-release connector of the type having a hollow casing and a connector member therein rotatable relative to said casing between locking members to predetermined inner posishaft and said connector member relative to said casing is permitted.

said connector member to said releasing position is permitted.

wall of said casing, a disc-like operating member on said shaft having a pair of slots extending radially on opposite sides of said shaft in diametric relation, a locking member disrotation, means 7 posed for radial movement in each of said-slots; spring means urging said locking members ra-' dially outwardly to positionswherein the respective outer ends project beyond the periphery of said disc-like member, the distance between said projecting ends being such as to permit simultaneous inward pressure thereon by opposed gripping surfaces of a human hand when the periphery of said disc-like member is gripped for manual for preventing movement of said locking members to said projecting positions except when said connector member is in said connecting position, and means effective when either of said locking members is in its outer projecting position to lock said shaft against rotation relative to said casing, said locking means being rendered ineffective only upon movement of both of said locking members to predetermined inner positions, whereby rotation of said shaft and said connector member to said releasing position is permitted.

5. In a quick-release connector of the type having a hollow casing and a connector member therein rotatable relative to said casing between connecting an releasing positions, the combination of a shaft for said connector member'extending through a wall of said casing, an operating disc on said shaft having a pair of slots extending radially on opposite sides of said shaft in diametric relation, each of said slots terminating in a circumferential notch subtending a substantial angle at the periphery of said disc, a substantially T-shaped locking member disposed for radial movement in each of said slots, the head of each T-shaped locking member being arcuate and adapted to lie in one of said circumferential notches When said locking member is in an inner position, spring means urging said locking members radially outward to positions wherein said arcuate heads project beyond the periphery of said disc, the distance between said heads when in said projecting positions being such as to permit simultaneous inward pressure thereon by opposed gripping surfaces of a human hand when the periphery of said disc is gripped for manual rotation, means for preventing outward movement of said locking members to said projecting positions except when said connector member is in said connecting position, and means effective when either of said locking members is in its outer projecting position to lock said shaft against rotation relative to said casing, said locking means being rendered ineffective only when both of said locking members are in said inner positions, whereby rotation of said shaft and said connector member to said releasing position may be effected by said disc.

6. In a quick-release connector of the type having 'a hollow casin and a rotatable connector member therein, the combination of a shaft for said member extending through a wall of said casing, an annular member surrounding a portion of said shaft and secured to said casing, the adjacent surfaces of said shaft and said annular member having axial slots therein disposed for radial alignment when said connector member is in its connecting position, an operating member on said shaft, a locking member carried by said operating member radially movable between inner and outer positions, said locking member including a locking key extending into said ali ned slots when said locking member isin its outer position to lock said shaft against rotation relative to said annular member thereby to retain saidconnector member in connecting Position,

said locking key upon radial movement of said locking member passing out of annular member to free said shaft from saidannular member thereby to permit rotation of said connector member to releasing position by said operating member, and spring means for operating said'locking member to said outer position upon rotation of said connector member to said connecting position.

'7. In a quick-release connector of the type having hollow casing and a rotatable connector member therein, the combination of a shaft for said member extending through a wall of said casing, an annular member surrounding a portion of said shaft andsecured to said casing, the adjacent surface of said shaft and said'annular member having axial, slots therein disposed for radial alignment when said connector member is in its connecting position, an operating member loosely mounted on said shaft, a locking member carried by said operating member radially movable between inner and outer positions, said locking member including a locking key extending into said slot in said shaft to key said shaft to said operating member for rotation thereby, said locking key being movable partially into said slot in said annular member by movement of said locking member slots are in alignment to lock said shaft against rotation, said lock-ing key upon radial movement of said locking member'passing out of said slot in said annular'rnember to free said shaft for rotation by said operating member whereby said connector member is rotated to releasing position, and spring means resiliently urging said locking member toward said outer position.

8. In quick-release connector of the type having a hollow casing and a rotatable connector member therein, the combination of a shaft for said member extending through a wall of said casing, an annularmember surrounding a portion of said shaft and secured to said casing, the adjacent surfaces of said shaft and said annular member having axial slots therein disposed for radial alignment when said connector member is in its connecting position, an operating disc on said shaft having a radially extending slot therein, a locking member radially movable in-said slot in said disc between an inner and an outer position,.the outer end of said locking member being of arcuate shape and adapted to project beyond the periphery of said disc when said locking-member is in saidouter position, said disc having a notch in the periphery thereof for receiving said arcuate end of said locking member upon movement to said inner position, said looking member including a locking key extending into said aligned slots when saidlocking member i in sai outer position to lock said shaft against rotation relative to said annular member thereby to retain said connector member in connecting position, said locking key upon movement of said locking member to said inner position passing out of said slot in said annular member to;v free said 7 shaft from said annular member and permit rotation of said connector member to releasing position by said operating disc, and spring means for operating said locking member to said outer position upon rotation of said connector member to connecting position.

9. In a quick-release connector of the type' having a hollow casing and a rotatable connector member therein, the combination of a shaft for said member extending through a wall of said casing,,an annular member surrounding a porsaid slot in said to said outer position when said tion of said shaft and secured to said casing, the adjacent surfaces of said shaft and said annular member having axial slots therein disposed for radial alignment when said connector member is in its connecting position, an operating disc mounted on said shaft and having a radially extending slot therein, a, locking member radially movable in said slot in said dis-c, the outer end of said locking member being of arcuate shape and adapted to extend beyond the periphery of said disc when said locking member is in its outer position, said disc having a notch in the periphery thereof for receiving said arcuate end upon movement of said locking member to its inner positio said locking member including a locking key extending into said slot in said shaft to key said shaft to said disc for rotation thereby, said locking key being movable partially into said slot in said annular member by movement of said locking member to said outer position thereby to lock said shaft against rotation when said axial slot are in alignment, and spring means resiliently urging said locking member toward said outer position, said locking mem-berupon movement to said inner position moving said locking key out of said slot in said annular member to free said shaft for rotation by said disc whereby said connector member is rotated to releasing position.

nector member therein, the combination of a shaft extending through a wall of said casing, a bearing for said shaft secured to said wall, said shaft having an axially extending slot therein, an operating member on said shaft, a locking member carried by said operating member movable radially of said shaft, said locking member including a locking key extending into said slot to key said shaft to said operating member for rotation of said connector member, said bearing having an axially extending slot in the inner surface thereof in radial alignment with said slot in said shaft when said connector member is in connecting position, siliently urging said locking member radially out-' ward from said shaft, said locking member upon outward movement when said slots are in alignment moving a portion of said locking key into said slot in said bearing to lock said shaft and said connector member in connecting position,

bearing to free said shaft and connector member for rotation to releasing position.

11. In a quick-release connector of the type and spring means for resaid arcuate end when said spring means upon alignment of said axially extending slots moving said locking member to said outer position to move a portion of said locking key into said slot in said bearing member and thereby lock said shaft and connector memdially from said shaft, respectively disposed in posite sides of said shaft for inward and outward radial movement, spring means urging said looking members to outer positions wherein the outer ends thereof project beyond said operating member, each of said locking members including a locking key extending into the adjacent axial bearing slot and lock said shaft and connector member against rotation, said locking members being movable inwardly by pressure against said projecting outer ends to FRANK G. MANSON. 

